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3.
the doctors in the area were asked to co-operate "by nursing suitable
cases at home, and particularly the milder types of Scarlet Fever.
Such co-operation has been carried out most loyally but it is only
fair to state that the incidence of infectious disease during the
war period of the year was abnormally low, and there are already
indications that further isolation provision will have to be made,
either by overflowing into the emergency section of the hospital, a
procedure which I am reluctant to adopt, or by arranging with other
infectious disease hospitals within the County and London County
Council areas.
The section of the Hospital adapted for the emergency hospital
service consists of, apart from bed accommodation, a reception ward,
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resuscitation ward, and two theatres, the latter established by the
conversion of kitchen premises. In addition an up-to-date X-Ray
plant has been installed. The necessary medical and surgical staff
has been allocated by Sector Headquarters and additional nursing staff
is being recruited from the Civil Nursing Reserve.
Unfortunately owing to these changes, the excellent and constructive
work being conducted by Dr. Joyce Wright in cross infections
in the Scarlet Fever wards had to be abandoned at a time when its
interest and value were maturing. This cessation one hopes will be
measured only by the period of the emergency.
MATERNITY AND .CHILD WELFARE.
All the Centres continued to be well attended until the outbreak
of war. As soon as war was declared the Health Centres at Central
and West Hendon and Mill Kill were converted into First Aid Posts and
the services transferred to temporary premises. As, however, the war
did not develop on the lines anticipated, and, moreover, the public
demand for these services was acute, the normal sessions were reestablished
at all the Health Centres, so that the three mentioned
now function in a dual capacity of Health Centre and First Aid Post.
The Child Welfare Centre on the Woodside Park Estate had to be
abandoned as the premises were no longer available but an additional
weekly session was established in the Holders Hill Road at St. Mary
Magdalen Church, where a considerable number of children from the